Wire lock, cutter chain structure



July 19', 1949. C, J, FORBES 2,476,852

WIRE LOCK, CUTTER CHAIN STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 2l, 1946 l PIEl. L.

I IN V EN TOR.

(Mn f5 .f5/@f5 Patented July 19, N1949 UNITED STATES OFFICE This invention relates to a chain structure and more particularly to a cutting chain chiefly utilized in the cutting of coal.

Chains of this general type are subjected to stresses and strain not common to conventional chains and therefore are subjected to breakage. Any breakage results in the cutting machine remaining idle until repairs or replacements are made.

The chief object of the present invention is to provide in such a cutting chain, readily separable connections of positive retention type, which chain can be quickly and easily opened, parts replaced and quickly reassembled.

The chief feature of the invention is the pivot r connecting pin, the head supporting same and the pin lock associated with both.

Other objects and features of the invention will be set forth more fully hereinafter.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of a cutter chain embodying the invention, the view being restricted to but one head and the adjacent ends of the head adjacent links, the cutting portion of the head being omitted since it may have any one of a number oi shapes and formations.

Figure 2 is a central sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1 and in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the pivot pin.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modiiied form of pin.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings, I0 indicates a pivot of generally cylindrical form which at one end is provided with two flat and parallel faces II and with a transverse or diametral bore I2 therethrough.

In Fig. 2 there is illustrated a pair of side plate portions, I3 and I4 the former also being illustrated in Fig. 1. The exterior of each is provided with upper and lower gibs I5 and I6 tapered at .opposite ends as illustrated.

The two plate portions are united by the top or cross bar portion I1 from which projects upwardly a head portion only a portion I8 of which is illustrated. It may project upwardly at any desired angle and mount any desired cutter in any suitable manner.

Resting between the side plates at [opposite ends are the adjacent ends of links I8 which also may have gibs thereon if desired. Each includes a cylindrical bore 2l of slightly larger size than the pin I0. Side wall I4 also includes spaced bores 22 of the same size.

Plate I3 however, includes bores 23 that have parallel flat sides 24 spaced apart slightly greater than the flat sides I I are spaced apart. Plate I3 on its outer face includes groove 25 that at opposite ends terminates at the adjacent faces 24 of the two bores 23 and at right angles thereto.

A iiexible pressure shearable initially arched member 26, see dotted lines in Fig. 2, has its oppositely directed and aligned ends 21 seatable in the confronting groove aligned bores I2 of the pins I0 when Athe links are applied .to the lug structure and the pins I0 are associated therewith through bores 22 in plate I4.

Obviously the flat construction, while permitting pin applicati-on and seating, is reversible, that is in either of two positions degrees apart can the pin only be fully seated in plate I3 for link retention for then only will the reduced pin ends properly register in bores 23.

When so seated and registered, the pins are xed relative to the plates and the links only pivot on the now non-rotatably supported pins. When so mounted, bores I2, as stated align with groove 25, and ends 21 of member 26, when the member is slightly compressed, can be seated in the ends of the groove 26 and the adjacent ends of bores I2. Then the bendable member 26 is straightened by pressure to fully nest in groove 25 as shown by full lines in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2

This operation forces the ends 21 further into bores I2 so that even if the now straightened member 26 with its aligned ends 21 shifts at one end to the end of a bore I2, the other end 21 will still be seated in the other aligned bore I2 to an appreciable extent. Thus the pins are locked against axial displacement or separation from the parts heretofore assembled.

When repair replacementnis required pin I0 need only be driven from plates I3 and I4 in the reverse direction which simultaneously shears the common key member. This frees the lug from the adjacent links and a new part can be substituted, the chain reassembled as before described and the pins locked as before described.

Whenever it is desired to reuse the member 26-21, a nut pick type member may be employed and associated with the groove seated portion 2 6 by application to it at the milled out portion or recess 36. Such picker can be used to rebend the member 26 suiiicient to retract ends 21 to clear slots I2. When so cleared the pins I0 can be retracted as before from the links and lug. The picker removed member 26 can then be revention, reference formed as shown .by dotted lines in Fig. 2 and again used for pin locking after the lug has been replaced.

Either method of separation is optional and material shortage will require only re-use of member 2li-21. Y

Whenever desired, see Fig. 4, the pin I l may include but one at face I'II and the bore H2 may extend through the pin or terminate short of same 4as illustrated..` Such pin requires oorresponding complementary formation of the hole 23 in the plate I3. With this form the pins are not turned 180 and usable interchangeably ineither position. v A

While the invention has been illustrated and described in great detail in the Vdrawings' and foregoing description, the sames toy be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. Y Y

The several modicatons described herein, as Well 'as "ntne'ns which wil readily suggest themselves to personsekilledn art, are oonsiderled to be within isroadscope of the krnbeingrhad tof the appended claims.

The invention claimed isi: Y

1.- In Va -chain having sucses-sive links and lugs successively coxmeotedwtogether in pivotal relal tion; the combination with a;y pair of having boresv in adienzent .endsziand a straddl'e type lug having side plate portlonsfand'a eonneeting. portion; said lug nesting the' link ends between the side plate portions; of. apadr ofi pins extending from'plate tn plate and seated aliner plate bores, certain of the'plate'beres Vand ends having oooperatingloeezting and mot-ation preventing surfacesr mme: .tot the plates having in. its

exterior face a longtndinally-directed groove .ex-f

l 4 tending from one pin seating bore in that plate to the other bore therein, each pin adjacent to that groove having a crosswise disposed bore therein capable of registering with the adjacent end of the groove, and an initially arched and straightenable groove seatable means having opposite ends disposable in the entrance to the pin bores when groovel associated, said ends passing oppositely into both last mentioned bores when the last mentioned' 'meansfis straightened to substantially occupythe groove for pin axial separation prevention. Y Y

2. A chain as defined by claim 1 wherein the groove lies vin a plane common to the pivotal axes of the links and the pin'bores are alignable with the groove and each other, and each bore eX- .tends diametrically across and through the pin end. Y Y

3. A chain as dened by claim 1 wherein the groove between its ends is intermediately and laterallyv -enlarged '-orf tooli accommodation 'e for means removal fromvthepin bores. Y f CHAlLESV J. FORBliiS.V v

REEEBENCES CITED The lfolloiwingfreferenlces arev oi' Vrecord 'in the ileof tziis patent: UNITED STATES PATENTS Date Number' Namev lessees Klaucke .'x Dec. 19, 1933 2pm-,947 Bosnian if.-

v hgsept. 3, 1,935 Y f noemen PA'rEnrs Ninnber A 'Country' Date 670,548 France Ang. 19:,Y 1929' 439,190 Y 

